17th International Federation of Ageing (IFA) Conference 2025 hosted in Cape Town

The 17th IFA Conference was held in Cape Town on September 9-12, 2025. The theme of the Conference was “’Yebo/Yes!’ Action on Ageing. Evidence, Policy, Practice.” The Conference was attended by almost 600 delegates from 63 countries: researchers, policy makers, advocates, practitioners – across policy, health and social development domains.

The venue for the Conference was the Cape Town International Conference Centre, situated on the Foreshore. For many delegates, their visit to the Mother City was a highlight.

The Conference programme comprised multiple keynote presentations, presidential symposia, focused symposia and concurrent sessions, alongside plenaries and a host of workshops and poster presentations.

Delegates were welcomed to the opening ceremony on the evening of September 9 by a troupe of African Zulu dancers. On the evening of September 11, delegates were able to attend one of two Africa-themed gala dinners at Waterfront restaurants.

ILC South Africa team members participated expansively in the organisation of the Conference and the proceedings. The Conference was generously sponsored by North-West University, where Professor Jaco Hoffman is based. Hoffman served as Chair of the Conference Programme Planning Committee, while Professors Sebastiana Kalula and Rayne Stroebel served on various expert advisory panels.

The Conference was widely regarded as a great success. It was an important platform for the sharing of knowledge; for delegates to deepen their sense of African issues of ageing; to avail themselves of excellent networking opportunities; and to explore beautiful Cape Town: Table Mountain, the city, the wine region, coastal drives and more.

ILC South Africa participates in the 17th IFA Conference 2025 in Cape Town

ILCSA team members participated in the 17th IFA Conference 2025 held in Cape Town on September 9-12 in several capacities.

The Conference was expansively sponsored by North-West University, where Professor Jaco Hoffman is based. Hoffman served as Chair of the Conference Programme Planning Committee, while Professors Sebastiana Kalula and Rayne Stroebel served on expert advisory panels.

Masako Osaka (ILC Global Alliance) photo framed at the Conference with Rayne Stroebel (ILCSA and CEO, GERATEC)

A total of 32 members of 12 of the 16 ILCs worldwide participated in the Conference. All ILC delegates presented or participated in one or more of 37 sessions. ILC members also convened several sessions: A Master Class on Age-friendly Cities and Communities; a session on End-of-Life Care as a Human Right; a symposium on Future of Ageing in an Uncertain World; a Symposium on Rethinking Families Uniting Sectors for Health Ageing; an ILC Presidents Symposium on Ageism; and others.

The Inaugural Nana Araba Apt Memorial Lecture was given at the start of the Conference by Professor Isabella Aboderin, a long-time colleague and collaborator of Professors Jaco Hoffman and Monica Ferreira. Ferreira paid tribute to Professor Apt and introduced Aboderin to the audience.

ILC delegates attended the gala dinner held at Spyced Restaurant at the Waterfront, which was a celebration of traditional Malay cuisine with some of the best wines of the region. A lively jazz session, in which the president of the IFA, Gregor Sneddon, joined a jazz guitar jamming session, had all delegates on the dance floor.

ILCSA hosts ILC GA meeting and lunch

ILCSA hosted a meeting for ILC members who were in Cape Town for the 17th IFA Conference in September 2025, on the Saturday succeeding the Conference. The venue was at the Steenberg Wine Estate south of Cape Town. The meeting was chaired by Co-Presidents Julie Byles and Margaret Gillespie.

Thirty-two ILC members and three guests attended the meeting and partook of the lunch that followed, also hosted by ILCSA, at Tryn Restaurant on the Estate. The guests enjoyed estate wines, including Cap Classique, the local term for South African “champagne.”

ILC members in front of Tryn Restaurant housed in an original Cape-Dutch architecture building at Steenberg Wine Estate.

ILC Argentina and ILC South Africa celebrate 20 years of membership of the ILC Global Alliance

ILC Argentina and ILC South Africa have celebrated 20 years of membership of the ILC Global Alliance in 2025. The occasion was marked in the meeting ILCSA hosted for ILC members in Cape Town. The President of ILC Argentina and the Honorary President of ILCSA each received a memento of the occasion.

Lia Susana Daichman (ILC Argentina) and Monica Ferreira (ILCSA) celebrate 20 years of membership of the ILC Global Alliance. Masako Osako (ILCGA) in the centre.

Rayne Stroebel elected Co-President of the International Longevity Center Global Alliance

International Longevity Centre South Africa (ILCSA) is proud to announce that Rayne Stroebel has been elected Co-President of the International Longevity Center Global Alliance (ILCGA). Rayne will serve alongside Co-President-Elect Susana Harding of ILC Singapore. The Co-Presidents-Elect will commence their terms of office at the close of the ILCGA Annual Board Meeting to be held early in December.

“We are deeply honoured by the confidence placed in us through this election,” said Co-Presidents-Elect Susana Harding and Rayne Stroebel said in a joint statement. “We pledge to serve the Alliance with integrity and collaboration, building on the robust foundation laid by our predecessors as we work to strengthen longevity science, social justice, and the well-being of older persons across the globe.”

The Co-Presidents-Elect expressed appreciation to the Nomination and Election Committee -Jayant, Sebastiana, and Masako – for stewarding the process with transparency and care. They also acknowledged David Sinclair at ILC UK, who withdrew from the election, for his wisdom, long-standing commitment, and continuing contributions to the ILC GA, and offered a special thank you to outgoing Co-Presidents Julie Byles (ILC Australia) and Margaret Gillis (ILC Canada) for their exemplary leadership and guidance.

ILCSA Co-director noted that the appointment “honours the collective work of scholars, practitioners, and communities who advance dignity, inclusion, and evidence-informed practice in ageing. In South Africa and globally, we share a responsibility to ensure that longevity is matched by quality of life, voice, and participation for older persons.”

Significance for South Africa and the region

Professor Stroebel’s co-presidency will strengthen South Africa’s contribution to global ageing discourse by:

• Elevating African scholarship and practice in gerontology and care.
• Promoting first-person language and relationship-directed care approaches across systems.
• Advancing the translation of evidence-based knowledge into training, policy and services to improve the everyday life of older persons.

Rayne Stroebel appointed as Extraordinary Professor at North-West University

Rayne Stroebel has been appointed an Extraordinary Professor: Practice in North-West University’s (NWU) Research Focus Area: Optentia Research Unit. The Ageing and Generational Dynamics in Africa programme, headed by Jaco Hoffman, resides within Optentia.  The appointment, effective from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028, underscores his expertise and commitment to advancing knowledge on ageing, longevity and psychosocial well-being, and excellence in person-centred care practices.

Professor Stroebel will actively participate in post-graduate student training and evaluation, and research collaboration within Optentia. He will contribute to strengthening interdisciplinary research aimed at enhancing human potential across the lifespan. NWU’s appointment of Professor Stroebel affirms the university’s commitment to fostering innovative, interdisciplinary research that addresses complex social challenges and enhances the quality of life of older persons.

About the Research Focus Area: Optentia
Optentia is a leading interdisciplinary research entity at North-West University dedicated to understanding and promoting human potential. Its work integrates psychology, education, sociology, and related fields, with a focus on resilience, well-being and societal transformation.

Relational Caring and Presence Theory in Health Care and Social Work: A Care-Ethical Perspective

The Optentia Research Unit and the NUMIQ Research Focus Area recently hosted a book launch for the newly published book, “Relational Caring and Presence Theory in Health Care and Social Work: A Care-Ethical Perspective.” Prof. Andries Baart, an extraordinary professor in Optentia and co-author of the book, presented its central ideas. Prof. Emmerentia du Plessis and Dr. Rayne Stroebel, both engaged in education, training, research, and practice, provided critical reviews of the book.

Prof Monica Ferreira Honoured with the Julia Alvarez Award

During its recent Annual Meeting, Prof Monica Ferreira was named one of two recipients of the International Longevity Centre’s (ILC) prestigious Julia Alvarez Award. The award celebrates her contributions to advocacy, research and policy development on ageing across Africa and globally. Silvia Perel-Levin, a distinguished advocate in this field, shares the award.

Prof Ferreira’s extensive career, marked by leadership roles such as President (and currently Honorary President) of ILC South Africa and former Co-President of the ILC Global Alliance, has inspired transformative initiatives, including the Cape Town ILC Declaration on Dementia and numerous evidence-based global ageing research projects and policy reports.

Special thanks go to Prof Jaco Hoffman for his compelling motivation in support of the nomination of Prof Ferreira for the award.

The accolade underscores the profound influence of her work in improving the lives of older persons worldwide. Congratulations, Prof Ferreira!

Thank You for Making the Human Forever Africa Premiere a Success

The Africa premiere of Human Forever, held on December 12, 2024, at Ster-Kinekor at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, was an inspiring and unforgettable afternoon for all who were there. The acclaimed documentary, directed by Jonathan de Jong and featuring Teun Toebes’ extraordinary journey alongside people with dementia, touched the hearts of all in attendance, celebrating resilience, dignity and the boundless human spirit. We extend deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this event:

ILC South Africa Leadership: Prof Monica Ferreira, Prof Jaco Hoffman, Prof Sebastiana Kalula, and Dr Rayne Stroebel, whose steadfast support and leadership brought this remarkable film to African audiences.

GERATEC Staff: Whose dedication and commitment to creating an inclusive and compassionate experience truly embodied the values showcased in Human Forever.

Teun Toebes: Whose courage and empathy inspire change in how dementia is perceived and understood worldwide.

Jonathan de Jong: Whose creative vision brought the powerful story to life on screen.

Ms. Civil Legodu: Chief Director at the National Department of Social Development responsible for older persons, who graced the event with her presence and by lending her expertise to this important cause.

Gregor Sneddon: Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing, for his inspiring global perspective and advocacy for dignified ageing.

Honorary Guests from the Hangberg Community: Their presence enriched the screening, and reminded us of the importance of unity and shared humanity.

Special thanks go to our audience for filling the theatre with energy and warmth. As Human Forever continues to inspire audiences worldwide, we are proud to have shared this pivotal moment with you. Together, we are championing a future where we celebrate and honour every person’s humanity.

Dr Rayne Stroebel joins ILCSA

Rayne Stroebel joined ILCSA as an Executive Member of its leadership team in 2023. He serves alongside ILCSA’s co-directors, Professors Sebastiana Kalula and Jaco Hoffman, based at the University of Cape Town and North-West University, respectively. Stroebel holds a master’s and a doctoral degree in Dementia Studies from Stirling University in the UK. He is the managing director of GERATEC (Gerontological Research, Training, Education and Care), a company that provides services to the long-term care sector.

In addition, Rayne Stroebel is the regional coordinator in South Africa of The Eden Alternative, a corporate social investment project of GERATEC aimed at changing the institutional culture of care homes. He brings experience and expertise to ILCSA in the areas of long-term care services and enhancement of the care ethos, towards a relationship-directed support model in residential care facilities. He develops and provides extensive training courses to improve the quality of life of individuals living with dementia.

Based in Cape Town, his GERATEC and The Eden Alternative business and service activities extend countrywide. He looks forward to opportunities to engage with centres in multi-country ILC research projects, particularly in the areas of care and dementia, as well as to engage in research aimed at advocacy and new policy formation in South Africa.

Recent appointments and activities of Sebastiana Kalula

Sebastiana Kalula has been appointed as the representative of the Africa Region to the Advisory Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Centre for Health Development (ACWKC). Her appointment is effective 2024 to 2026. The 16-member committee advises the Director-General of the WHO on strategic issues, currently in two main research areas: 1) Health emergencies and disasters; and 2) Health systems responses to population ageing and long-term care. The ACWKC meets annually, and is scheduled to meet next in Kobe, Japan, on November 25 – 26, 2024.

Sebastiana Kalula recently participated in other United Nations’ system related groups and activities, those of the World Health Organisation (WHO), in particular.

• She is a member of the WHO’s Technical Advisory Group for Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation of Healthy Ageing: a formal advisory body on technical and/or scientific matters relating to healthy ageing programmes, policies and intervention for the UN Decade of Healthy Aging. She participated in a group meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on April 12 – 14, 2023.

• She is a member of both the WHO’s Clinical Consortium on Healthy Ageing (CCHA) and the Global Network on Long–Term Care (GNLTC). The consortium and network support the WHO in developing guidelines on Integrated Care for Older People. She participated in meetings in Geneva, Switzerland on December 5 – 8, 2023

Sebastiana Kalula presented a paper entitled “Ageing, healthcare and the mobility syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa” in a workshop on “Ageing and health of older persons in sub-Saharan Africa.” The workshop was held in Entebbe, Uganda in February 2023. It was hosted by the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Germany, in collaboration with the Department of Population Studies at Makerere University in Uganda and the Faculty of Sports Sciences at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Madrid International Plan on Ageing (MIPAA).

Sebastiana Kalula participated in the Commission on the Status of Women (NGO CSW) Forum 66 Virtual Conference. “Women working towards later life: Expectations and inspirations. Roles of older women in South Africa, how they champion the rights of women, and how they are valued within their communities.” March 2022.

Sebastiana Kalula presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Cape Town, May 15/16, 2024, “National Dementia Plans and Culturally Relevant Approaches to Care within the Clinical Setting”.

Recent activities of Jaco Hoffman

Jaco Hoffman, Daniela Aisenberg-Shafran (Israel) and Francisco Javier Mesa Rios (Mexico) presented a joint paper in a virtual event of the International Psychogeriatric Association (IPA): A new Debate Series on “Concepts of aging in different cultures and latitudes.” The event inquired how different cultures deal with ageing within families: on a societal level, in healthcare systems and through worldviews, exploring similarities and differences in experience working with older adults, and how the concepts of ageing are understood in the different contexts. Professors Doris Bohman and Lisa Skär joined him: The former sharing Swedish models of community care for older persons and the latter proposing ideas for future partnerships through the Erasmus and other EU exchange/funding programmes.

Jaco Hoffman participated in the 7th International (25th National) Public Health Congress of the Turkish Association of Public Health Specialists on “An ageing world: A social scientist’s perspective for the next generation.” In Antalya, Turkey, December 15, 2023.

Jaco Hoffman presented a virtual training course on “Ageing in the oldest and youngest regions of the world: Trends and approaches towards healthy ageing.” An IAGG Training Course for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, October 19, 2023.

Jaco Hoffman participated in an IARU “Student Capacity Seminar and Steering Group Meeting” (Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, NUS Singapore, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Zurich, NUA Australia, UCT/NWU, South Africa), in Tokyo, Japan, October 15 – 19, 2023.

Vera Roos and Jaco Hoffman gave a joint paper on “Older South Africans’ e-Inclusion: A focus on technology design and age-inclusive implementation” in the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) 16^th Global Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, June 27 – 30, 2023.

Jaco Hoffman gave an invited address on “Moving forward in 2023: Identifying the 3 Top Priorities for LTC Development or for the Planning of New LTC Systems – What to Tackle First?” In the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) 16^th Global Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, June 27 – 30, 2023. He also moderated a session in the conference on “Current status of care systems and policy environments – challenges and opportunities for progressive development and policy innovations.”

Jaco Hoffman gave a keynote address on “Careful care: Towards contextuality and relationality,” in workshops on “A New Perspective on Care,” convened by Activo Health. In Cape Town, July 7, 2023.

John Beard and Jaco Hoffman assisted in the facilitation of scholars from the Global South to participate in a virtual meeting of the “Working Group on Aging Society Metrics” hosted by ILC USA, August 9, 2023.

Jaco Hoffman gave a paper on “Long-term care in the youngest region (Africa): Relational perspectives for self-determination,” in a meeting on “A comprehensive approach to independent ageing: Innovative solutions and technologies.” In Aichi, Japan, October 13 – 15, 2023.

Recent activities of Rayne Stroebel

Rayne Stroebel participated in The Eden Alternative’s 30^th anniversary celebration conference in King of Prussia, Philadelphia, USA, July 2-4th, 2024. He presented a paper at the conference on work done in South Africa to transform the institutional culture of care homes.

Rayne Stroebel participated in the 16th Global Conference of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) in Bangkok, Thailand. ​He presented a paper on “The Storying of Elderliness in Hangberg.” (Hangberg is a residential site for a historically disadvantaged community of Hout Bay, a fishing village adjacent to Cape Town.) His research contributes to an alternative knowledge system that deepens understanding and respect for marginalised older persons in post-apartheid South Africa.